Machine-cover.



'PATENTED JULY 31, 1906.

R. A,. BOSTELMAN MACHINE COVER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JULY 31, 1906.-

R. A. BOSTELMAN.- MACHINE COVER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1904.

a) IIIIIIIIIIIIII/II 2 JLAJIO UNITED STATES TENT OF ICE.

RUDOLPH A. 'IBOSTELMAYN, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. I IIVIAC-HINE-QOVER.

application filed November 7, 1904. Serial No. 231,812.

To all whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH A. BosrEL- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residin at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Machine-Cover, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in protective covers for type-writing and other machines of an analogous nature as, for instance, adding or computing machines.

One of the objects is to provide a novel coverwhich will completely inclose and protect the machine from dirt, dust, and injury and to employ in connection therewith a machine-support that is movable into and out of the cover, is automatically ejected to present the machine in a convenient operative posizo tion when the cover is o ened, and is completely housed Within sai machine when the cover is closed.

A further obj ectis to provide in connection with the cover a copy-holder that is supportz 5 ed in convenient relation to the operator when in use and is foldable compactly-into the cover and out of the way of the machine. The result isa com lete structure that is capable of'being use as a carrier, so that it may be transported from place to place and when opened has everything convenient for the operator. I r

An embodiment of the invention and one that is at present considered preferable is 3 5 illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in'the following specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aiperspective view of the coverclosed. Fig. 21s a similar view of the cover opened. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view-of the structure as shown in Fig. 1 and indicat' in dotted lines a type-writing machine. ig. 4 is a sectional view through the structure as illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper portion being broken away. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5 5 ofFig. 4:. l

Similar reference-numerals designate cor- Eesponding parts in all the figures of the a s. I I In theembodiinent illustrated a container is employed comprising a hooded casinglfi and-a open" front and is provided withend walls 8, a rear wall 9, a top 10, and a bottom .11, said bottom projecting a considerable distance Specification of Letters Patentg ooded closure 7. The casing 6 has an Patented rul ai, 1906.

The hooded beyond the front of the casing closure 7 is rovided with a to 12, a front wall 13, an end walls 14. e top 12 is hinged at its rear edge, as shown at 15, to the front edge of the top 10"of the casing. Said closure is adapted to cover the open front of the casing'and surround the ro ecting portion of the bottom 11, and w en thrown to open positionit is'supported upon the casing with 1ts top. 12 resting on the top 10 thereo In order to provide a dustproof joint between the coacting edges of the casing and closure, the front edge of the former has secured thereto in any suitable manner a packing-strip 16 of felt or analogous material. The closure can be secured in 1ts closed posi: tion by means of a hook 17, hinged to the front wall and adapted toengage a staple 18, projecting from t e front edge of the bottom 11. I

Movably mounted on the bottom and constituting a support therefor. is a machine carrier or su port in the form of a platform 19. Said lat orm has rollers 20 "ournaled thereon, w 'ch rollers run u on ownwardly and forwardly inclined trac 21, carried by the bottom 11, guides 22 preventin the lateral movement ofthe platform. T e tracks 21 have their rear portions elevated above the upper surface of the bottom, while their front portions are depressed below the same and terminate in upwardly-extending shoulders 23, constitut' stops that limit the outward movement df the platform by being located in the path of movement of certain 0 of the wheels 20, said shoulders being preferably provided with buffer-cushions 24.

It will be observed that the rear rollers of the platform are of less diameter than those located at substantiall the center, and therefore said'platform be supported in substantially horizontal relation. I

For the purpose of supporting the outer end of the platform, partlcularly when the same is pro 'ected beyond the bottom 11, as too showniin ig. 4, said la'tform provided witha foldable sup ort-in the form of a' standard-25, pivote" as shownat 25, by means of asprlng-hinge to the under side of the'platform and having roller.- 27. This standar and roller are arran ed to swin upwardly and into a socket 28, ormed in t e under side of the platform, so that when said platform is moved inwardly into the casing-the standard and no atjits free end a r05 roller will freely pass over the front edge of the bottom 11, and whenvsaid platform is moved outwardly the standard will assume an upright position, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to properly support the outer portion of said platform.

For the purpose of securing the platform in its innermost position a locking device is employed and is in the form of a latch having a stem 29, slidably mounted in keepers 30, secured to the inner sideof the rear wall 9, said stem having at its lower end an upstanding hook 31 arranged to engage in a socket 32, formed in the rear end of the platform. The upper end 33 of the stem is slidably mounted in the topfllO of the casing and is arranged to project t ough the same, being yieldingly supported by a spring 34. It will be observed that the said upper end 33 is located in the path of movement of the top 12 of the closure, so that when said closure is swung back to open the container the stem 33 wil be depressed, thereby moving the hook out of engagement with the platform and releas- 1ng the same, so as to permit it to gravitate down the tracks. In order to effect the initial movement of said platform, a startingmotor is employed in the form of leaf-springs 35, secured at their upperends to the rear wall 9 and having their lower free ends disosed in the path of movement of the platorm and adapted to be moved backwardly when said platform is moved into the casing.

A copy-holder formed of sheet metal and comprising a backin -sheet 36, having a supportlng-ledge 37, is inged, as shown at 38, to a strip 38, secured to the inner side of the top 12 of the closure and having one end 39 projecting beyond said top. Thecopy-holder normally is located at an inclination within said closure, being yieldingly supported at such inclination by means of a spring 39. The said co y-holder is adapted to e swung back into the closure against the tension of the spring 39.

It will be observed that the copy-holder is rovided with a lip 41, extending below the 'nge and so arranged that when the closure is swung to closed position this lip will strike the inner side of the top 10 of the casing, and

in this manner the copy-holder will be auto-- matically swun to and held in its rearrnost position. On t e other hand, when the closure is swung to open position the lower portion of the copyolder will strike the rojecting end 39 of the strip 38 and be eld thereby at an inclination, as shown in Fi 4.

For the purpose of carrying the container or cover and the contents thereof a handle 42 is employed, having a detachable ivotal connection 43 with one end wall 8 of t e casing and having another similar detachable connection, by means of a snap-hook 44 and e e 45, with the corresponding end wall of the clbsure. It will thus be observed that the cover or container is to be carried on end, and in order to strengthen the joint between the closure and easing stay-rods 46 are employed, secured to the end walls 8 of the casing and projecting beyond the front edges of the same, the projecting portions being received in keepers 47, located on the end walls of the closure. It is also to be noted that as the cover will be carried with one end uppermost the platform will be disposed vertically, and for securing the same lugs 48' and 49 are employed, that enga e over the front and rear margins of said p atform, said lugs being carried, respectively, by the front and rear walls of the casing and closure, and thus securely holding the platform against movement as long as the cover is closed.

In use the t e-writin machine, as indicated in dotte ines in ig. 3, is secured by any well-known or desirable means to the platform, and thus when the cover is closed thereover all dirt and dust will be excluded. If it is desired to use the machine, it is only necessary to unfasten the closure and swing the same back upon the casing. This movement will depress the stem 29 of the latch, thereby releasing the platform. The springs 35 will thereupon act to project said platform and the machine carried thereby, the platform gravitating down the tracks to the projected position, (Shown in Figs. 2 and 4.) In this position the machine is entirely outside the casing and in convenient position to be operated upon. The upward movement of the clmure swin the copy-holder to exposed position, and t 1c same being thus released is automatically swung b its spring to proper position for use. In t is connection it 1s to be observed that the holder is disposed directly over the machine, so that the notes placed thereon are in a particularl suitable place. In covering the machine it is only necessary to move the platform back, drop the closure, and lock the same. If it is desired to transport the same from place to place, the handle is connected to the closure, and as the platform is securely held there is no dan er of derangement of the machine secured t ereto.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without rther description.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new; and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is j 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a portable casing having an 0 en front and a bottom that projects heyon the front edges of the casing, of forwardly and downwardly inclined tracks arranged on the bottom and extending onto the projecting portion thereof, a machinesupporting platform running on said tracks and having its inner portion movable onto the rojectnig portion of the bottom to carry the odyof the machine entirel out of the casmg, the outer portion oft e platform overlying the said projecting portion ofthe bottom when in its innermost position, and a closure for the open front of the casing, said closure covering the projecting portion of the bottom and the outer portion of the platform. I

2. In a device of the cl ss described, the combination with a casing aving a bottom, of a machine-carriermovable upon the bottom and arranged to be projected beyond the same, an outwardly-movable support --mounted on the carrier and movable to an aperatlv'e position to supportthe same when e carrier is projected, said support engagng and being folded by the bottom on the lnward movement of the carrier, and means for moving thesupport when the carrier is projected.

for holding the su) ,I 3. In a device of the class described, the comblnation with a casing having an open front and including a bottom projecting beyond the front ed es of the casing, of a hinged closure for t e open .front, inclined tracks carried by the bottom, a machine carrierplatform having rollersthat operate on the tracks, said platform being movable into and outof the casin and when in its outermost position pro ectlng beyond the free edge of the casing and beyond the bottom, and an I outwardly folding support carried by the pro ecting'portion and arranged to engage the bottom and be swung to folded osition upon the inward movement of the atform.

4. In a device of the character escribed, the combination with a container having a movable cover, of a machine-support movably mounted in the container and inclosed thereby, said sup ort and" the machine mountedthereon being exposed upon the opemng movement ofthe cover,automatic means independent of the cover for effecting the movement of the support, 'and'locking means operated by the cover for holdin the support against movement, said locfidng means being operated by .the cover upon its opening movement to releasethe machine support and permit its automatic projection.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a container havinga hinged cover, of a movable 'machine-supportmounted on the contamer and uncovered when said container-cover is swun to open positlon, automatic means for e ecting the proection of the support, and locldng'means ort against movement ockin .means having by said means, sai a 'portion disposed in the at .of inovement of the cover and operate by the same to release the support when the cover is swung to open positlon.

- 4 6. In a device of the class described, thecombination with a container comprising a casing and a bin ed cover therefor, of a reciprocatory macIiinesup orting platform movable into and out of the casing and exposed in said casing when the cover is opened, and a sliding latch mounted in the casing and detachably engaging the platform to hold the same against movement, said latch having a portion located in the path of movement of the cover andbeing operated when the cover is swung to open position, said cover thereby exposing and releasin the platform.

7.; In a device of t e class described, the

combination with a casing including a rearv when the closure is opened, and a lock-for 4 holding the platform in retracted position, said lock comprising a slidably-mbunted latch-that detachably en ages the platform and a stem that projects 3%)OV6 the top of the casing and is arranged to be engaged and moved by the closure when the same is swung to open position, said opening movement of the closurethereby exposing and releasing the platform to permit its automatic projection.

8.. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing having a top, a

.bottom, and an 'open front, of a closure hinged to the top of the casing and movable to an open position upon the same, a machine-supporting platform movable on the bottom and exposed when the closure. is moved to open position, means for efiectmg the movement of they platform, a latch en gaging the platform for holding it against.- ovement, and actuating means for the atch projecting above the top of the casing and into the path of movement of theclosure, said closure exposing the platform and pressing down the actuating means when resting upon the top of the casing, thereby disengag ing the latch from the platform.

9. Ina device of the class described, the

combination with a hooded casing having a rear wall, of ahooded closure hinged to the upperportion of the casing and having a front wall, a platform slidably mounted in the easing and having its front portion projecting therefrom and adapted to be covered by the .closure, and keeper-lugs carried respectively by the rear wall of the casing and the front wall of the closure and arrangedto engage over the platform.

10. In a device-of the class described, the combination with a container comprising a casing and a closure hinged thereto, of a copyholder hinged to the closure, and a spring for yieldingly supporting the holder when the closure is opened, said copy-holder engaging and being moved against the action of the spring when the closure is swung to closed position. v

- 11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, of a machine-support located therein, a closure hinged to the upper edge of the casing and arranged to be swung backwardly upon the same, a copyholder hinged to the top of the closure, a spring for yieldingly supporting the copyholder, and means coacting with the holder for automatically effecting the backward swinging movement of said copy-holder against the action of the spring when the closure is swung to closed position.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a container comprising hingedly-connected casing and closure sections, of a copy-holder movably mounted on one section and having a portion arranged to strike the other section to move said holder with respect to the section carrying it when the container is being closed.

13.- In a device of the class described, the combination with a container comprising hingedlyconnected casing and closure sections, of a copy-holder hinged between its ends on one section, the portion of said holder on one side of the hinge constituting a worksupport, the other portion being arranged to engage the other section to swing said holder when the container is closed.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, of a closure hinged thereto and movable to a position upon the same, a copy holder movably mounted on the closure and movable therewith, a portion of the casing being located in the path of movement of a portion of the copy-holder and effecting the movement of said copy-holder with respect to the closure upon the movement of said closure.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination with a hooded casing comprising a bottom, a top, rear and side walls, of a hooded closure for the casing comprising a top and side walls, hinges connecting the adjacent edges of the tops, the top of the closure being located upon the top of the casing when opened, a machinesupport movably mounted in the casing and uncovered when the closure is opened, and a locking device engaging the support for normally holding it against movement, said device having an actuating element projecting through and above the top of the casing and arranged to be engaged and operated by the top of the closure when the latter is swung thereupon to release the machine-support.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a hooded casing having a rear wall, of a hooded closure hinged to the casing and having a front wall, a platform movably mounted in the casing and having a,

front portion projecting therefrom and adapted to be covered by the closure, keeper devices carried res ectively by the rear wall of the casing and t e front wall of the closure,

the platform being movable to a position beneath the kee er devices of the rear wall, and those on the ont wall beingarranged to engage over the platform when the closure is swung to closed position, and a handle for carrying the casing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RUDQLIH A. BOSTELMAN.

Witnesses:

G. D. CRAIG, W. J. CAMPBELL. 

